'Idol' reflections

Washington Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes, unlike "Idol" judge Simon Cowell last night, isn't short on words when it comes to describing the phenomenon known as Sanjaya Malakar.

Following last week's results show de Moraes offered this observation:
"Sanjaya ... with enough age and pampering, could hit Michael Jackson Crazy in no time. He already speaks softly and carries a big shtick."

And today, she has this to say in her column:
"Sanjaya, if you've missed the show to date, is the Heather Mills of 'American Idol.' Instead of dancing without a leg, he's singing without a vocal cord. A talent amputee."

And on Phil Stacey's performance last night?
From her washingtonpost.com blog:
"Phil Stacey sucked the life out of 'Night and Day.' The best Simon could do with that was 'it had all the joy of somebody singing in a funeral parlor.' Simon was completely shot down by Phil, who responded that he'd sung the love ballad to his wife in the audience. (Which, by the way, will totally keep Phil out of the bottom three this week.)"

Wait, there's more! Check out Entertainment Weekly’s web site. The video commentary, photo galleries and episode blogs (TV Watch) could keep any "Idol" lover busy for hours.

Here’s what EW’s Michael Slezak had to say about Tuesday’s performances:

"Blake has yet to deliver a jaw-droppingly good, rewind-the-DVR vocal — and after seven weeks of live performances, I'm starting to wonder if he's capable of one."

"A memo to Haley Scarnato: You are not the only woman in the competition who's capable of taking the 'girls' out for a walk with a plunging neckline. You do, however, appear to be the only one who's running the risk of an FCC violation if your hemline goes any higher than tonight's gam-tastic green sequin number."

"Was I the only one who kept imagining Phil standing outside a stranger's bedroom window with a flashlight shining up his face as he delivered a particularly moribund 'Night and Day'? I mean, I know the song is all about longing and torment, but there's a difference between bringing the heartache and making me want to take out a restraining order."

"If Idol is a horse race, then Sanjaya Malakar is the colt who loses his jockey coming out of the gate. Sure, he's loping around the oval — out of control, occasionally messing up his competitors' game plans — but technically speaking, without a rider, he can't be declared the winner, he can't pick up a paycheck, and none of the folks who bet on him can cash a ticket."